"People keep asking me if it's AI. That's not an insult though, because it just doesn't seem real": photographer captures threatened species that wins Australia's most prestigious nature photo competition – but his drone almost died out on the ocean
Photographer's incredible aerial encounter with a critically endangered green sawfish and turtle in Western Australia almost didn't happen – his drone was 2.5km offshore with its battery warning beeping
Matt Deakin, a photographer and drone pilot, has been awarded Overall Winner in the prestigious Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition with his haunting image "Ethereal Encounter." The photograph depicts a critically endangered green sawfish swimming alongside a green turtle in the waters off the Pilbara region in Western Australia.
The image's surreal quality has led people to question whether it was created by artificial intelligence, to which Deakin responds, "That's not an insult though, because it just doesn't seem real." During the shoot, Deakin's DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone was around 2.5 kilometers offshore as the light faded, and the drone's battery warning beeped.
As a green sawfish emerged from the depths, Deakin captured the moment, emphasizing the privilege of witnessing such a rare creature in its natural habitat. Among the 2,129 entries from 501 photographers across 17 countries, "Ethereal Encounter" emerged victorious, with the winning image on display in an exhibition at the South Australian Museum from August 29 until February 14, 2027.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
